Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ATHENS849
2005-03-28 11:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

A SNAPSHOT OF THE GREEK ENERGY SECTOR:

Tags:  ECON ENRG EPET GR AMB 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000849 

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SNEC STEVEN MANN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET GR AMB
SUBJECT: A SNAPSHOT OF THE GREEK ENERGY SECTOR:
AMBASSADOR'S MEETINGS WITH GREEK OIL AND GAS CEO'S


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000849

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SNEC STEVEN MANN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET GR AMB
SUBJECT: A SNAPSHOT OF THE GREEK ENERGY SECTOR:
AMBASSADOR'S MEETINGS WITH GREEK OIL AND GAS CEO'S



1. (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador Ries met with the Chairman of
the Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) on March 21, and the CEO
and Chairman of Hellenic Petroleum (HP) on March 22. DEPA is
undergoing capital restructuring while the GoG has already
gradually sold its shares of HP. DEPA is part of a joint
effort to build a gas interconnector linking the Greek and
Turkish gas networks to that of Italy. DEPA's Chairman was
optimistic about the project's progress despite the recent
announcement by Turkey's BOTAS that, for procurement process
irregularities, it had canceled the construction tender for
the Turkish portion of the trunk supply line and will start
the process anew. HP's Chairman confirmed that Greece,
Bulgaria, and Russia are scheduled to sign a final memorandum
of understanding concerning the Burgas-Alexandropoulis
pipeline on April 15. Despite a ten-year delay, the project
appears to have regained momentum. HP's CEO maintained that
the Burgas-Alexandropoulis pipeline will be complementary to
-- not competitive with -- the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
In addition, HP is working to consolidate its downstream
operations in the Balkans and expand its upstream operations
in North Africa and the Mediterranean. END SUMMARY.

--------------
PUBLIC GAS CORPORATION
--------------


2. (U) In a March 21 meeting Ambassador Ries and Raphael
Moissis, Chairman of the Public Gas Corporation (DEPA),
discussed current developments in the natural gas industry.
Although originally a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hellenic
Petroleum, today DEPA is owned by HP (35%) and the GoG (65%).
DEPA is currently undergoing capital restructuring as part
of the larger privatization efforts occurring throughout the
Greek energy sector. Once the process is complete, DEPA's
ownership will be divided between private investors (34%),HP
(35%),and Greece's Public Power Corporation (30%).


3. (U) DEPA currently owns a 51% share in three gas
distribution companies, which distribute gas to households
and small industries in Attica, Thessaly, and Thessaloniki.
DEPA plans to expand by forming three new gas distribution
companies covering Central Greece and Evia, Central (Greek)
Macedonia, and Eastern (Greek) Macedonia and Thrace. Because

of an exemption from the EU energy directive, the three
existing companies have a thirty-year right of exclusivity.
DEPA intends to request a similar exemption for the three new
companies.

--------------
TURKEY-GREECE GAS INTERCONNECTOR
--------------


4. (U) DEPA, Turkey's BOTAS, and Italy's Edison have teamed
together to build a gas interconnector project to link the
natural gas networks of Greece and Turkey to that of Italy by

2006. Moissis estimated the total cost -- including the
Turkish, Greek, and trans-Adriatic portions -- at 1 billion
euros. The interconnector will link to Turkey's existing gas
grid to move gas from the Caspian and Russia (from the Blue
Stream line) across Greece and under the Adriatic to
Brindisi. Once completed, the pipeline will be able to carry
up to 11 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year. There are
already agreements between DEPA and BOTAS, the GoG and the
GOT, and DEPA and Edison. There is not yet an agreement,
however, between the GoG and the GoI. The trans-Adriatic
portion would be jointly owned by DEPA, BOTAS, and Edison --
but they are open to having additional investors become joint
owners. According to Moissis, DEPA and BOTAS will connect
the Greek and Turkish grids even if the trans-Adriatic
portion is delayed or canceled.


5. (U) Although construction was due to begin in Turkey in
April, Moissis informed us that the Turkish tender recently
was canceled. He explained that Turkey's Peker, which was in
the consortium that submitted the best bid, was part of the
recent corruption investigation in Turkey's energy sector.
Therefore, BOTAS canceled the tender and will start anew. It
is unclear how long this set back will delay the
interconnector's construction.

--------------
THE LINK TO ALBANIA
--------------


6. (U) According to the current plan, the interconnector
will go in a southwest direction from Kipi in northeastern
Greece to Perdika in northwestern Greece. A direct east-west
route would shorten the interconnector but it would cut
across southern Albania. Although the GoA is eager to pursue
this alternative route, Mr. Moissis stressed that Edison does
not believe it is a bankable option because the investors
will not be able to secure Italian export credit if the
interconnector passes through Albania and the financing terms
would accordingly be much worse because of the increased risk.

--------------
HELLENIC PETROLEUM
--------------


7. (U) On March 22, Ambassador met with Hellenic Petroleum's
CEO, Dr. Panos Cavoulacos, and Chairman, Timos Christodoulou
to discuss HP's operations in Greece and abroad. HP was
established in 1988, carved out of the former state-owned
Public Petroleum Corporation. The GoG has gradually sold its
shares of HP. Today the GoG holds 35.5% of HP shares while
the Latsis Group holds 32.9%. Minister of Economy and
Finance Alogoskoufis announced in August 2004 that the GoG
has no intention of selling any more of its stake in HP.
Three-fourths of HP's revenues derive from its four oil
refineries (three in Greece and one in Macedonia) which cover
72% of Greek market requirements. While the Macedonia
refinery must eventually close because it does not (and
cannot) meet EU specifications, HP is planning a 500 million
euro expansion of one of its refineries in the Athens area.

--------------
BALKAN OPERATIONS, NORTH AFRICA PROSPECTS
--------------


8. (U) According to Mr. Christodoulou, HP has "all the
advantages of a private company but all the disadvantages of
a public company." When the GoG was the majority
shareholder, HP expanded operations for the sake of political
objectives. Today, however, HP is attempting to consolidate
its operations and run for profits. Despite its investments
totaling 350 million euros in southeastern Europe, Dr.
Cavoulacos explained that HP has had "little return." HP is
present in the downstream market in eight countries: Albania,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, and
Serbia. HP would like to expand operations in Bulgaria and
Serbia, but consolidate operations in Albania, Macedonia and
Montenegro. In the latter countries, HP has faced
considerable rule of law problems. Although HP's upstream
operations are extremely limited, it would like to partner
with larger companies to expand its efforts. In particular,
HP is looking for production or exploration investment
opportunities in North Africa and the Mediterranean.

--------------
BURGAS-ALEXANDROPOULIS PIPELINE
--------------


9. (U) In November 2004 Greece signed a memorandum of
understanding with Bulgaria and Russia to cooperate on the
construction of an oil pipeline from the Bulgarian port of
Burgas on the Black Sea to Alexandropoulis on Greece's
northern Aegean coast. Despite a ten-year delay, the project
appears to have regained momentum. The signing of the final
MOU is scheduled for April 15. If completed, the 700 million
euro project would relieve tanker pressure on the Bosporus by
reducing average tanker transit delay by 4.5 days by 2008.
Dr. Cavoulacos maintained that the Burgas-Alexandropoulis
pipeline would be complementary to -- not competitive with --
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The Burgas-Alexandropoulis
pipeline, according to Dr. Cavoulacos, will be cost efficient
because of its short length and the fact that very large
crude carriers (VLCC's) could load at Alexandropoulis, making
shipment to U.S. markets economic. He added that the
pipeline parties would welcome the participation of U.S.
financial institutions and investors.


10. (U) COMMENT: The CEO's of both DEPA and HP would like
to expand cooperation with the U.S. Dr. Cavoulacos noted in
particular that GE is one of two finalists to run HP's new
electricity plant in Thessaloniki and that HP is eager for
U.S. financial institutions to participate in the
Burgas-Alexandropoulis pipeline. Ambassador commented that
U.S. companies would likely be interested in any pipeline
that is commercially viable. Both CEO's acknowledged that
liberalization in the Greek domestic energy market is
inevitable (and required by EU directives),yet recognized
that public-sector unions still have significant influence
and constrain GoG enthusiasm. END COMMENT.
Ries